Davis powers D-Backs to win

by Nick Piecoro - Jul. 29, 2008 11:37 PMThe Arizona Republic

SAN DIEGO - Off the bat, Chris Young was thinking the score was tied.

The Diamondbacks center fielder raced toward the ball in right-center field, thinking he was going to have to play the carom off the wall, thinking Jody Gerut's drive was going to clear the bases, thinking that the San Diego Padres had just tied the score.

But out of nowhere came right fielder Alex Romero with what might have been the play of the year for the Diamondbacks, saving the game and Doug Davis' memorable night all in one play.

Romero's spectacular catch preserved the Diamondbacks' 3-0 victory on a night Davis flirted with a perfect game, retiring the first 20 batters he faced before giving up a single to Brian Giles with two out in the seventh inning.

"The best catch that I've seen that wouldn't have been a home run," Young said. "I don't know how he caught it."

Reliever Jon Rauch pumped his fist on the way off the mound, Young raised his hands in excitement and jubilantly patted Romero on the back, and the dugout, Davis recalled, jumped up and down "like we won the pennant."

Romero's reaction?

"He straight-faced me when he was running in like he knew he had it all the way," Young said.

Romero was a little more wide-eyed after the game, explaining how he somehow managed to keep his eyes on the ball as he caught it with his back facing home plate. He made the catch perhaps only inches before the wall in right-center field.

"I knew the ball was going deep, so I had to run hard," he said.

Davis wouldn't have predicted after warming up in the bullpen that he would pitch so well.

"I had a terrible session," he said. "But during the game, I got into a groove."

Davis said he was aware of the perfect game the entire way.

"I was thinking, 'Challenge the hitters,' " he said. "I was just thinking, 'Throw strikes, and let them hit it.' "

After Giles' single, which came on a fastball up and over the plate, Davis finished the seventh, then came out for the eighth. He allowed a single and a walk with one out, bringing his pitch count to 116, but manager Bob Melvin stuck with him.

Davis got Nick Hundley to fly out but then walked Josh Bard, bringing him to 124 pitches and bringing Melvin out of the dugout to summon Rauch.

Gerut, pinch-hitter for Scott Hairston, crushed the second pitch he saw from Rauch, but somehow Romero tracked it down.

The natural comparison to Romero's catch was the one Young made in this ballpark last year, robbing Mike Cameron of a grand slam.

"I say it's better than mine; obviously, mine was robbing a grand slam, but who's counting?" Young said, smiling. "I would say it was definitely a tougher catch than mine. I had time to get my feet set and read the gate and all that. He didn't have time for any of that. He had to get there and throw his glove out there."

D-Backs report

Key player

Doug Davis retired the first 20 batters he faced and allowed just two hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings.

Key moment

Alex Romero's incredible catch of Jody Gerut's fly ball in the eighth inning saved the game for the Diamondbacks.

Key number

1 The Diamondbacks lead in the National League West.

View from the press box

Diamondbacks outfielders seem to love robbing the Padres of hits. Last year, Jeff Salazar took a home run away from Brian Giles at Chase Field, and Chris Young robbed Mike Cameron of a grand slam. Then came Alex Romero's amazing catch Tuesday night. Though he didn't take away a home run, we're going to put Romero's at the top of this list, both for its degree of difficulty and its level of importance. But all three were incredible.

It's hard to be much better than Haren has been since the start of June. In his past 10 starts, he has a 1.39 ERA, holding opponents to a .188 average. He has pitched so well that he has put himself into the Cy Young Award discussion. . . . In his most recent start at San Francisco, he beat the Giants, allowing two runs in eight innings. He has gone seven innings or more in nine of his past 10 starts. . . . Baek beat the Diamondbacks on July 4, giving up just two hits and one walk in six shutout innings. . . . He started the season with the Mariners, posting a 5.40 ERA. He has a 4.86 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) with San Diego.